Pioneer case study – ARK base
Pioneer case study – ARK base
ARK is dedicated to renewing church buildings into sustainable spaces of creativity, community and mission.
by Nick Johnson,
Established as a business ministry of King’s Cross Church in 2016, ARK began in a dilapidated Victorian building, transforming it into an affordable workspace for freelancers, social enterprises, and early-stage start-ups, creating community in the heart of King’s Cross.
Led by a small, dedicated team – including Nick, Gav, and Philippa – ARK has since expanded its vision. We work with churches to help them reimagine their underutilized buildings, transforming these spaces into hubs of community engagement throughout the working week, at times when church buildings are often empty.
By blending experience, skill, and faith, we assist church leaders in reimagining their buildings as vibrant community spaces which engage people in their working lives and creative practices, sustained through income generation and designed to serve the life of the church. Our projects, which can be viewed at www.arkbase.org, illustrate the potential for transformation.
Involvement with CMS
Nick is currently enrolled in the London Pioneer School, an incredible programme which equips pioneers to launch and lead ministries across the diocese. This pioneer mission training has been invaluable. It has helped ARK build connections with like-minded pioneers in a learning community and ground our practices in a strong theological understanding of mission.
Our inspiration
We have taken inspiration from the historical friary models of old, where friars extended their mission beyond monastery walls into the surrounding fields, expressing God’s love for people in their everyday work.
The Benedictine monks, for instance, integrated “Ora et Labora” (prayer and work) into their routines, believing in a harmonious integration of both aspects of life.
Their times of worship and studying scripture fueled their faith actions, tending to the fields of their local community. These fields became places for discipleship, innovation, and proclaiming God’s love.
Similarly, we believe ARK can facilitate a modern expression of this model, welcoming individuals who might not otherwise come to a church on a Sunday.
The problem we are solving
Nicky Gumbel once remarked, “an empty church is like the empty palace of a long-forgotten king.” A survey in Islington, London, revealed that church buildings can be empty up to 75% of the time.
Too often our empty buildings communicate a lack of vision and heart for our local area, when they should be gateways for our local community to come and experience the face of the church in a fresh way.
“We are beyond-words grateful for all they have poured into the life of our church and the way they’ve helped us discover more of what’s possible, releasing such life in this place.”
Matt, Church leader
Reaching the next generation – who prioritise authenticity and value genuine actions over brand loyalty – requires churches to extend their mission beyond just Sundays. What we preach on a Sunday, and what we then do on Monday morning, need to be inextricably connected.
How we started
King’s Cross Church (KXC) is an Anglican church commissioned by the Bishop of London in 2010, led by Pete and Bee Hughes. Initially without a permanent building, KXC has in its DNA an entrepreneurial edge, exploring places and spaces to create and foster community from the outset.
When KXC acquired a dilapidated Victorian tenement building, the goal was to create a staff office for KXC and establish a new ministry to meet the needs of the small business community. The building required significant renovation and the church community rose to the challenge, transforming it into a space for midweek small groups, a staff office, live streaming Sunday services during the pandemic, and the home of ARK coworking.
ARK coworking emerged as a missional business community, welcoming in amazing people who were developing ventures addressing social injustice, environmental issues, and demonstrating care for our city and world.
As our members told us their stories, we learned first hand the effect that working in isolation has on people’s mental health, a pervasive issue in London driven by high costs of living that can force individuals to work at home or in coffee shops.
“What I enjoyed most were feelings of validation! That our work is worth investing in, worth talking about – worth the blood, sweat and tears! It’s been so lovely to have had you guys take a chance on us and show interest in what we do, and has been brilliant to connect with people at a similar stage on their journey.”
Sam, ARK member
ARK coworking provided a supportive, self-sustaining environment, balancing income from memberships with support for those in need.
A previously empty building became a bustling hub of creativity and community, with the church and business community rubbing shoulders every day.
Our impact
In our first chapter, the church initially invested £200k into the building. ARK coworking subsequently turned over £1.36m between 2016 and 2022. It was sustainable, paying £616k in rent to the church and donating £37k to local charities.
Most importantly, ARK remained an affordable workspace, supporting over 600 people and incubating more than 10 small businesses.
“They have played a key role in enabling us to serve God’s purpose for the renewal of our area.”
Pete, Church leader
We’ve since partnered with All Saints Church to set up the next iteration of ARK coworking. Att St Saviour’s Church in Finsbury Park we set up ARK studios, a pop-up coffee bar, gallery, and photoshoot space.
To learn more about ARK’s journey or to discuss your vision for a church building, follow us on Instagram, visit arkbase.org and get in touch.
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